vóta do pobal na Sé contae ins na toghchán d'Uachtarán na hÉireann

by Jonah Fri Apr 13, 2007 11:19

I'm not opposed to this. I don't see why Irish people living in the North should not have a vote for President.

But in all seriousness, is this an issue that is a burning one for young people. Are there 19 and 20 year olds in Newry and Banbridge who lie awake at night paralysed by the fact that come 2011, they won't be able to vote for one of the most powerless positions in Irish politics? Are there young people in Dingle and Galway who wear sackcloth and ashes in protest at their government's shameful position not to allow their brothers and sisters over the border to elect a useless figurehead?

Since I became eligible to vote, the Presidential election is the only election or referendum I haven't voted in, genuinely not seeing the point. Now, if there was a broad left agreed candidate as is argued by a Shinner in this week's Phoblacht, then maybe a different matter, but even then, it's not keeping anyone awake at night.

With the nurses on strike right across the country and water rates about to hit young people in the North, one could wonder whether Ógra Shinn Féin have the right priorities.

by Jonahs Ark Fri Apr 13, 2007 13:16

Ógra Shinn Féin are active on many issues, not just a president for all, i think the president for all campaign helps get an all ireland mentallity in to people's heads, and it is a right so why should it not be campaigned on. I mean if Mary McAleese with her County Down address would not be able to vote for herself.

Ógra are active on all issues, one just has to look at there blogspot.

And by extension, SF are campaigning on many issues.

by Dub Fri Apr 13, 2007 13:19

This campaign exposes Sinn Féin's right-ward direction. They actually believe that the Presidency should exist! They support the office of President. The President is only in the Constitution as a way to over-rule an "irresponsible" elected government that may do something like throw out Shell or Tax big business more. If a Government did this then the full weight of the Presidency, Seanad, Supreme Court, and Council of State will be used to stop it. The Office of President is there to defend capitalist interests. Even if an anti-capitalist left-winger was elected they would use the Presidential Commission and the Council of State to over-rule him.

Sinn Féin support to office of President. Do you want to know why? Here are a few reasons. 1. Northern Catholic illusions in the Southern state. Sorry lads, the South is pro-imperialist and pro-capitalist and will not defend working class interests, never has. 2. Mary McAleese. SF supported this rotten President when she went for re-election. Why? only one reason- she's a Northerner. 3. This leads to the next reason- SF are a regional party. They are only concerned with Ulster matters. The main mindset of the Party is the North. If they were a truly national party they would have a more balanced view of Ireland. 4. SF are a pro-capitalist party that are not to fussed about democracy. They would be happy with a United Ireland with capitalism and with positions like the President. President is elected ever 7 years (well mostly 14) and only citizens over 35 can run. Rotten!!

BTW
Why the hell should Northerners vote in Southern elections? Give me ONE good reason. Why should people that do not have to put up with the Government and it's laws get to decide key matters? Why are SF not calling for a vote for non-Irish citizens resident in the South? Maybe it's because they are not "Irish" enough?

by Duine Fri Apr 13, 2007 13:21

An ndearna sibh dearúd ar Chomhanontú Aoine an Chéasta ina ghlac Sinn Féin, i measc daoine eile, nach raibh dlinse an dá Stát Éireannacha ag trasnú ar a chéile

by O Fri Apr 13, 2007 13:59

we might get a dictatorial president someday.
Someone like Tanaiste Mc Dowell- does anyone realise that the further right you go
the thicker the political argument?

The president is a bureaucrat who has openly facilitated legislations that will be challenged under
EU and international Law over the coming years- I certainly think that the corrupt little democracy
she thinks she is upholding is the shame of Europe.

Maybe OSF /RSF/Sf think it is a good idea for the Uachtaran to invoke a council of state that are
illiterate when it comes to legislation and that the Irish people are so fecking coked out of their tiny
little minds that nothing passes them by.

The decisions made by the council of state will provide many young law students with material for many years.

How long has Mc Aleese Left?

by True Republican Sat Apr 14, 2007 20:39

I don't want a vote for a Free State President. Mary McAleese should be indicted on a charge of treason to the All-Ireland Republic.

Of course the Provos withdrew their allegiance from the Irish Republic in 1986, and as such this nonsense coming from them is hardly surprising.

by Dub Sat Apr 14, 2007 21:28

If you had a United Ireland tomorrow what form of state would you establish? I content that you (presumably RSF member/supporter) would be happy with a President of Ireland similar to the Free State President. You would be happy to have a head of state elected every 7 years and unaccountable. You would be happy to have all the undemocratic apparatus of the current Southern state. i.e. Council of State, unaccountable Judges, Presidential Commission, Seanad, big pay for TDs, Parties accepting corporate donations, etc. Republicans offer no real alternative. Their Republic will merely be an all-Ireland state as rotten and reactionary as the present Northern and Southern states. Republicans offer nothing but words on social questions. Thier main fetish is rubbing out a line on a map.

by testicle Sat Apr 14, 2007 21:57

& the nurse confirmed that I was male after I spent a quarter hour in the cubicle doing my bit for middle class middle aged people who can't have babies as easily as poor young people.
So
I know I can't really be a proper Irish president uachtaran but since coming of presidential age my dreams of both waking and slumber have featured me, myself, mé fein on postage stamps, at dinners & the once in a lifetime discreet photo-op with the Brit queen. Yes indeed gan amhrás I'm talking about being old enough to be Eire's first citizen. But dreams aren't enough - you have to have ambition and plans too. So I'll go over to the website "pledgespace" some day soon & promise to run for uachtaran na hEireann on one condition - I don't go home. If elected (obviously not by ye coz you're all either fenians, anarchists or greenie-reds with their own candidates or the moral fibre to abstain) .......where was I?........... oh yes!
If I am elected to be your president - I will continue to live in an Catalán and never once not a night sleep in Aras an (h)Uachtaran. I will be the first migrant president of Eire who by curious constitutional oversight will still not have the right to vote in either my home country or the constituency of my birth. I will naturally light a candle in the window of my flat and all my neighbours will see it & know it is there for the diasporia (me) and not the usual Irish people they see (in the Irish bar).

I suppose some of you think I'm taking the piss.
But that's all part of the master plan ·.·

Ná díol caora dhubh, ná ceannaigh caora dhubh, agus ná bí gan caora dhubh as I say myself.

by True Republican Mon Apr 16, 2007 21:16

Actually, I propose a 32-County Federal Democratic Socialist Republic of the Four Provinces. This would provide for maximum decentralisation of power to local communities. I certainly do not seek the incorporation of the Six Occupied Counties into the Free State.

by Reality check Mon Apr 16, 2007 22:29

Dub,

You are sadly mistaken if you think that "The President is only in the Constitution as a way to over-rule an "irresponsible" elected government that may do something like throw out Shell or Tax big business more. If a Government did this then the full weight of the Presidency, Seanad, Supreme Court, and Council of State will be used to stop it."

The Supreme Court would of course act to restrain such a Government but the other bodies couldn't even if they wanted to. For all practical purposes, the Irish President has no real power and the Seanad has only piddling powers. The Council of Sate is a merely advisory body with no power whatsoever and cannot even summon itself into existence without the president's say-so! The Presidential commission only comes into play when a President is incapacitated or dead.

And as for: "The Office of President is there to defend capitalist interests. Even if an anti-capitalist left-winger was elected they would use the Presidential Commission and the Council of State to over-rule him."

Nope, they wouldn't even have to; the Executive and the Supreme Court are the only seats of power that count. And the Executive APPOINTS the Supreme Court! Why the fuck would they even worry about the President? You could elect the most anti-capitalist left-winger imaginable and s/he would rot in impotent glory for 7 years.

by Reality Check Tue Apr 17, 2007 01:27

Can i please ensure you that Whomever posted as "Reality Check" above is posting as an imposter. Indymedia can check the IP adress to that effect and remove the offending post as an act of intended falsification.

Regards, the real anti-Bree 'Reality Check'

by Dolly Tue Apr 17, 2007 23:38

Oops! I most humbly apologise if I have inadvertently misappropriated your identity. No misleading intent tho.